The Mariners have had a losing record in each of Eric Wedge's three seasons in Seattle. / Troy Taormina, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

by Bob Nightengale, USA TODAY Sports

Seattle Mariners manager Eric Wedge, who knew he was about to get fired, beat the front office to the punch Friday by announcing his resignation at the end of the season.

"I accept Eric's decision not to return and thank him for his hard work here the past three years," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said in a statement. "I want to wish him and his family all the best in the future."

Wedge vented his frustration at management earlier this week, angry that he was not told his fate.

"It's tough," Wedge said. "I feel like I'm hanging out there. That's the reality of it. But I'm coming here and doing my job. You know how passionate I am about this team and these players in particular and this organization."

Wedge, who missed six weeks when he suffered a stroke in late July, said that he feels fine and hopes to land another managerial job. Certainly, he says, he shouldn't be responsible for the Mariners' 70-89 record, or that they haven't reached the playoffs since 2001.

"I didn't get here 12 years ago," he said. "I didn't get here six years ago. I got here less than three years ago. So, this is what we're doing. This is what we're committed to. And you've got to have strength. You've got to have conviction with what you do.

"If somebody else is sitting in this seat tomorrow, they're going to be in a decent situation moving forward."

The Mariners have yet to open the job search, but an internal candidate is former All-Star catcher Ted Simmons, a special assistant to Zduriencik. Simmons has expressed interest in the past in managing.